Step 1: Know your formulas
Step 2: Know when and how to use them.
Step 3: Know where the "traps" lie.
Step 4: Make a practice test (out of hw probs).
Step 5: Take your practice test, then score it.
Step 6: Like your score? Celebrate the rest of your weekend!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Extra Assignment
As I was explaining during the 8.2 class...
Please take the time to observe the things around you and measure ratios that you think might approach phi, the golden ratio of approximately 1.618. (As a reminder, as the Fibonacci sequence progresses, the closer the ratio of any two consecutive terms (the greater over the smaller) gets to phi. If you find that fascinating, visit the fib link to the right.) We discussed some ideas in class. Get creative and see what you discover! Share your info on an index card and turn it in some time this week. It will be worth 3/3 and will NOT hurt your grade.
Please take the time to observe the things around you and measure ratios that you think might approach phi, the golden ratio of approximately 1.618. (As a reminder, as the Fibonacci sequence progresses, the closer the ratio of any two consecutive terms (the greater over the smaller) gets to phi. If you find that fascinating, visit the fib link to the right.) We discussed some ideas in class. Get creative and see what you discover! Share your info on an index card and turn it in some time this week. It will be worth 3/3 and will NOT hurt your grade.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
8.1 HW
A question about #27 in the HW was emailed to me. Thought I'd share my reply...
I bet you just graphed it. All you have to do is put your calculator in "dot" and "sequence" mode, and you'll get dots on your graph. Don't forget to put n - 1 in parenthesis when you enter it. And in the future, don't worry when you come across a problem that is unlike those we've done in class. I like to challenge my students to do the thinking on their own for some of the problems. When you run across these types, make an attempt, and if wrong, sleep on it. For real! You'll be surprised how often your brain can solve a problem that you've been stuck on during the day, while you sleep at night! If you still wake up clueless, that's okay. I spend a lot of time answering homework problems the next day in class. Going over all of the "aha" moments during this part of the class really helps a lot of students. As the class progresses, you hopefully will enjoy the challenge of these problems!
I bet you just graphed it. All you have to do is put your calculator in "dot" and "sequence" mode, and you'll get dots on your graph. Don't forget to put n - 1 in parenthesis when you enter it. And in the future, don't worry when you come across a problem that is unlike those we've done in class. I like to challenge my students to do the thinking on their own for some of the problems. When you run across these types, make an attempt, and if wrong, sleep on it. For real! You'll be surprised how often your brain can solve a problem that you've been stuck on during the day, while you sleep at night! If you still wake up clueless, that's okay. I spend a lot of time answering homework problems the next day in class. Going over all of the "aha" moments during this part of the class really helps a lot of students. As the class progresses, you hopefully will enjoy the challenge of these problems!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
WELCOME TO OUR BLOG!
Numbers are amazing. Whether used to convey moving information powerfully (Sarah McLaughlin's video), or with chilling accuracy (the worldometer), numbers shoulder a rather great responsibility. It is a privilege to share our journey this year exploring number theory (our honors project), number patterns (sequences and series), unlimited numbers (calculus) and number torture (trig!).
My hope is that this blog can serve as a resource for our class, as well as a window to math outside of our curriculum. Check out the links on the side and see where it leads. Feel free to suggest additional links. I would love to see this blog evolve further as more creative, intelligent minds contribute to what I have started.
(I have also included an ACT review consisting of forty-eight short interactive quizzes (only five questions each) covering important ACT topics. A good goal might be to take one short quiz each time the blog is accessed.)
Please participate in our summer break poll, and feel free to post a comment any time.
Oh, and don't forget to feed our fish!
My hope is that this blog can serve as a resource for our class, as well as a window to math outside of our curriculum. Check out the links on the side and see where it leads. Feel free to suggest additional links. I would love to see this blog evolve further as more creative, intelligent minds contribute to what I have started.
(I have also included an ACT review consisting of forty-eight short interactive quizzes (only five questions each) covering important ACT topics. A good goal might be to take one short quiz each time the blog is accessed.)
Please participate in our summer break poll, and feel free to post a comment any time.
Oh, and don't forget to feed our fish!
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